History - Meet the Milaeger Family

After 50 years, many stories have been generated about our family business, so it seems appropriate to set the story straight about who we are.

Daniel F. Milaeger was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Minnie and John Milaeger in 1925. At the onset of the Depression, the family moved to Racine, just 20 miles south of Milwaukee, to live with Minnie's folks until times got better. Immediately after high school graduation, Dan was drafted into the Army. He served in the Air Corps until the war ended in 1945. Returning to Racine, he married Joan Erickson, the Wind Point Lighthouse keeper's daughter in 1947.

In 1950, Dan built an 8' x 12' greenhouse in the couples backyard. Joan and Dan grew vegetables, flowers and bulbs for their own pleasure and sold any excess plants to neighbors. Dan and Joan tried farming a small plot, growing potatoes, strawberries, raspberries, and other food crops to peddle door to door. In 1959, deciding that being at the mercy of the weather was too difficult, they purchased a two-acre parcel on Douglas Avenue and erected a 30' x 90' used greenhouse.

The first commercial crop produced in the greenhouse was what was then called "hothouse tomatoes". The following spring brought annuals and geraniums - the first crops offered at retail. Dan and Joan's love for both plants and people was apparent and the little business flourished. Dan built a store in 1961, and the couple added greenhouses as money permitted.

The present Racine store was built in 1970, and has seen many additions and renovations. The Atrium serves as an entryway to a home store on the left and a garden store on the right.

Our Sturtevant location was added in 1978 and underwent extensive remodeling with greenhouse additions and a magnificent Atrium in 2005. The store carries all of the giftware, home accessories, and garden items that the Racine store offers and receives fresh plant material from the Racine greenhouses on a daily basis.